Next on List:

-Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne-Untamed by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast-Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast-Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater-Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead-The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith-Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Hey guys. Sorry I wasn't able to get a review up today. I was really hoping to have my review for Blue Moon up and then Shadowland so that I could have my interview up on Thursday after my memes lol. But since today was so hectic with work and traveling back to school, I wasn't able to put it up. So, I'll have that review up for you all tomorrow! Thanks for reading!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

The cover art for this story is beyond perfect. It fits so well with the story and is a great foreshadowing of events in the story. I just love the tulip!

Age Rating:

There is some violence in this story so I would recommend an age of 14 or 15. I would definitely say that this would be in the middle grade of PG-13 if this book were to be a movie.

Summary:

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste...

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

My Thoughts:

I wasn't sure of what I would think when I began to read this book. But once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. This book is so addicting and with mysteries throughout, you have to keep reading to find out the answers. The characters are so individual and unique within that normalcy we see everyday so they felt real and relatable that I thought they were my own friends. I really felt like I had gotten to know them so well and was becoming Ever as I read on. Alyson Noel really outdid herself on this debut novel to her new series. And I can't wait to read and review the rest for you.

In this first installment, we meet Ever Bloom, a teenager who was orphaned after a horrible car crash. The crash took the lives of her parents, little sister, and beloved dog. Ever since, Ever couldn't understand why she was the one to live. Since the accident, Ever was taken in by her aunt Sabine and moved to a new town with new classmates and a new life with psychic powers! That is where the story begins.

A new boy comes to town and shakes everything up for Ever Bloom as well as the entire school. With this newcomer to town, Ever learns more than she could have ever known before completely turning her world upside down.

Friendships new and old are tested beyond belief in this to-die-for read. I absolutely loved this book. Like I said, I couldn't put it down, and I will definitely be reading it again. Now there are a lot of comments out there that say that this book is a lot like Twilight and Vampire Academy. I really didn't see that. Other than the fact that there is a boy and a girl. This story is very unique and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end leaving you anxious to read the next one.

I definitely recommend this book to any YA fantasy/supernatural/suspense/romance fan. It is such a great read worth your time.

Friday, January 29, 2010

So, I'm very pleased to share with you all my interview with Laurie Faria Stolarz, the author of Blue is for Nightmares, Deadly Little Lies, Bleed, and Project 17. She was such a joy to interview and I am so thankful that she agreed! Well, here it is!

Romantic Scholar: First of all, would you mind giving us a brief summary of Deadly Little Lies?

Laurie Faria Stolarz: Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.

View the Book Trailer for Deadly Little Secret: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fzMpVMy2fQ

RS: What inspired you to write the TOUCH series?

LFS: I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.

Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.

RS:Is there a certain message within the TOUCH series you would like your readers to know?

LFS: Yes, people need to trust and listen to their instincts. There are several messages embedded in all of my books, and whichever messages makes sense and/or speak to the reader is great.

RS: You also have another book that has recently come out, the fifth installment to your Blue is for Nightmares series, Black is for Beginnings. Could you tell us a little about that?

LFS:The BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series that put a spell on more than half a million readers continues – in graphic novel format! Prophetic nightmares. Near-brushes with death. Killers pursuing her and her friends. Stacey Brown knows that being a hereditary witch isn’t all it's cracked up to be.

All she really wants to do is work things out with Jacob and figure out what to do with the rest of her life. But before Stacey and Jacob can have a future, they must face their pasts. BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS reveals the never-before-seen backstory - and what lies ahead - for the young, spellcasting lovers.

BLACK continues the harrowing adventures of Stacey and Jacob in the wake of Jacob's brush with death. Ever since he lost his memory, Jacob hasn't been able to remember Stacey - his own soul mate. He leaves Massachusetts, returning to his childhood home in Colorado, hoping to jog his memory. What he remembers is Kira, his ex-girlfriend. As Jacob works to piece together his past, will there be room for Stacey in his future?

RS: What made you decide to publish it in the form of a graphic novel?

LFS: I wanted to try something different. The arcs of the first four books are similar in many respects, and so I wanted to give the series a creative spin. I felt the series was finished at four books, but readers kept asking me for a fifth. When my editor approached me with the idea of writing a graphic novel, I was very intrigued, because it gave me the opportunity to not only try something new, but to really picture the book as a movie. I have a background in screenwriting and wrote BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS in screenplay format, adding in ideas for illustrations and sidebars. It was an absolute thrill to write, and to have the opportunity to work with an illustrator for these characters and situations I’d created.

RS: Can we look to see any more from your Blue is for Nightmares series?

LFS:Possibly ;) We’ll see.

RS: What first inspired you to write?

LFS: I’ve been writing since before I could even hold a pen. As a small child, I was constantly telling stories to whomever would listen to me. When I’d exhausted my family with my endless babbling, I’d go out and tell my tales to the neighborhood kids – passing the stories off as truth. I’d tell of going into the meadows at night and wrestling with a mountain lion or the time I found a boa constrictor in my mom’s garden and had to grapple for my life, winding the snake from around my neck just in the knick of time. Telling stories is just something I’ve always done. I used to write plays and scripts for my Barbie dolls and make people watch the performances. My love of creating stories continued into school when I’d have to write a paragraph or short essay about what I did during Christmas vacation or summer break. I never thought my own life was exciting enough, so I was forever inventing stories.

People along the way, including some teachers, would tell me that I should pursue writing as a career but, at the time, it wasn’t a possibility. I ended up going to business school, following in my older brothers’ footsteps. It wasn’t until after I got my B.S. in marketing that I pursued my graduate degree in creative writing. I’m thankful for my marketing degree now, however, because it really helps me with my books.

RS: Do you like to have any food or drinks when you write?LFS: I love dark, black coffee.

6. My first job was as a piano teacher (I was 9). I’ve also been a waitress, a supermarket cashier, worked in a ceramics studio, worked as a tour guide for international exchange students, been a teacher, a script reader, an editor, and written obituaries for a newspaper.

7. I’m a vegetarian. If I were to try my hand at a different career, it would be holistic nutritionist.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Again, I am blown away by the cover art for this series. The cover art fits in so well with the story. It really helps to create the atmosphere before you start to read it.

Age Rating:

I would say that any strong YA reader could handle this book. There are some mildly dark scenes as with any of Laurie's work but nothing that a 14 year old can't handle.

Summary:

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift- pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?

Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben seems aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and to move on. Alex, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Alex is easy-going, and seems to really care about her.

But when Camelia and Alex start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past- and Alex's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out whom- before it's too late.

My Thoughts:

Deadly Little Lies was a phenomenal sequel to Deadly Little Secret. Just like it's predecessor, Deadly Little Lies was full of suspense. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I couldn't put it down. It was such an amazing read.

In this sequel, the story of Camilia and Ben continues and you learn more about Ben and his psychometric abilities. So much that was left unanswered in the Deadly Little Secrets is answered in this book as well as new questions being presented.

When a new boy comes to town, things start to get a little interesting, and more questions arise. Camilia is confronted with confused feelings and inquiries about Ben's special talents. More and more suspense unfolds in this new and exciting installment in the intriguing TOUCH series.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who has read the first in the series and recommend the series to anyone who has yet to read it. I will definitely be reading it again.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals comes a new middle-grade series featuring Ever’s younger sister, Riley.

Welcome to the Here and Now

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she’s summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can’t quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he’s never met Riley. . . .

My Thoughts:

I absolutely LOVE The Immortal Series. And Riley is one of my favorite characters, so I can't wait until this comes out to read about her!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

So, it's 2010. Another year has gone by and it's time to make some changes. I have made a resolution that I will be updating more often. I honestly didn't think that I would go all of December without a single update. But I guess when you get your wisdom teeth out, have Christmas, and are preparing for a new semester things don't always go as planned. And for that I apologize to my readers.

So, as part of my resolution...

There WILL be a post every day.

I will have a weekly update as well as my current memes, reviews, interviews and book signings.

There will also be more contests!

I will be updating my sidebars along the way so please bear with the old 2009 stuff...

About Me

My name is Ali and I love to read and write. I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic and that reflects in both my reading and my writing. I'm a 21 year old college student and I like long walks on the beach. Haha, just kidding. ;)